Caspar Weinberger

“The ability to get to the verge without getting into the war is the necessary art.”

“There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education. In a democracy such as ours, we must make sure that education wins the race.”

“The defense budget is more than a piggy bank for people who want to get busy beating swords into pork barrels.”

“If you are going to use military force, then you ought to use overwhelming military force.”

“A weak defense is a provocation.”

“We are not buying weapons, we are buying peace.”

“Small wars are always teetering on the brink of becoming big wars.”

“The trouble with liberals is that they know so much that isn't so.”

“I have often been accused of being a general in search of a war. I am not. I am a general in search of a peace.”

“The first and absolute requirement of a contest for major office is money.”

“What is the sense of having a great program if you don't have a country to put it in?”